You/Us in the Interstice

In You/Us in the Interstice, enFOLD Collective draws inspiration from Paul R. Williams’ ethos: that intentional, dignified design belongs in every home, regardless of budget or circumstance. Echoing homes’ exterior to interior transitions—from grand foyers to modest vestibules—this installation explores the humanity present in the spaces that negotiate the public exterior and the private heart of the home. Williams, celebrated for his glamorous Hollywood residences and their iconic curvilinear staircases, was equally committed to affordable, thoughtfully designed housing for low- and moderate-income families. In projects like Hacienda Village and Nickerson Gardens, where budget and space were restrictive, he reimagined the humble exterior vestibule—using syncopated vertical accents to enhance privacy and imbue a sense of welcome.

You/Us in the Interstice translates these dualities into sculptural language. Rising from an elemental, stacked brick base, transparent acrylic tubes undulate in plan and elevation as they ascend toward the ceiling. The installation evokes the sweeping staircases of Williams’ luxury homes, simultaneously referencing the rhythmic pillars shaping entry into his multifamily units. These tubes, reaching up to eight feet, shape an enclosure reminiscent of a living room, enveloping viewers in a familiar yet abstracted domestic threshold. Elegant gestures of light and shadow, openness and enclosure, echo Williams’ ability to create both glamour and intimacy with modest means, symbolizing his nuanced negotiation between access and dignity.

The installation stands in conversation with an audiovisual projection showcasing a collage of Williams’ residential architecture. Historic still photographs display nuanced and personalized treatments of thresholds–wealthy, middle-class, and low-income. The video is overlaid with contemporary sounds of residential sites, sampling the ongoing and varied experience of domestic entry.

Photos: Joshua White/JWPictures